Watford’s Odion Ighalo deserves as much respect as Jamie Vardy

It has certainly been an unpredictable Premier League campaign so far this season, with the latest surprise seeing Chelsea and José Mourinho part company for the second time.

The Portuguese trainer’s fate was sealed after a 2-1 defeat to shock division leaders Leicester, who have been propelled to the table’s summit due to Jamie Vardy’s goals.

The England international’s rags-to-riches story has been well publicised in the press and rightly so given that the former non-league star has scored 14 Premier League goals this season.

However, there are plenty of other feats that should be applauded.

Newly promoted Bournemouth gave their hopes of avoiding relegation a boost with an unlikely brace of wins over Chelsea and Manchester United recently, but are still expected to be at the wrong end of the table come May.

One side that has made the jump from The Championship but certainly do not look out of their depth is Watford, who have been going about their business without ruffling too many feathers or getting huge amounts of attention.

Perhaps it is Leicester’s dramatic rise to the top of the table that has seen the Hornets’ progress downplayed, but the Vicarage Road outfit deserve real credit.

Currently sitting seventh in the table and a mere 15 points away from the magic tally of 40 that will have been their objective at the start of the season, Watford have been mightily impressive both at home and away.

A new manager and a swathe of summer playing recruits bred questions over the potential for a slow start due to the wholesale nature of the changes, but there have been no such concerns.

Although Watford have had star performers all over the pitch in their progressive start to the new campaign, it is hard to look past one of those that played a crucial role in getting the club to the Premier League in the first place.

Odion Ighalo’s partnership with Troy Deeney was too hot for second-tier defences to handle last season and the versatile duo has continued where they left off in the Premier League.

I am a freelance football journalist from Northern Ireland living in Broome in Western Australia. I have worked for top media outlets such as FourFourTwo, goal.com, Soccerlens, Football Fancast and Here is the City.
I am a lifelong and long-suffering Tottenham fan. Follow me on Twitter at @90MinsOnline

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